Irresistible Gluten-Free Vegan Banana Bread Waffles: Your New Favorite Dessert for Breakfast
These Banana Bread Waffles redefine breakfast, tasting like a decadent dessert while being naturally sweetened, gluten-free, vegan, and incredibly easy to meal prep!
“These are the best waffles I’ve ever had.” This glowing endorsement came directly from my friend Ashlee, who, along with her husband Tommy, recently stayed with us. She shared her thoughts on her Instagram page just after I served these delightful banana bread waffles. At the time, I was deep in the midst of recipe testing, scrutinizing every detail, and had even stashed the test batch in the freezer the night before. Her immediate, enthusiastic reaction made it abundantly clear that my self-critique was a bit too harsh, and more importantly, that this extraordinary vegan banana bread waffle recipe absolutely had to be shared with all of you.
The Evolution of a Breakfast Masterpiece: Banana Bread Waffles
Crafting the perfect name for this recipe was almost as much fun as developing it! I considered several options, including “Chocolate Chip Banana Waffles” and even “I Want To Eat These All The Time Waffles.” Ultimately, “Banana Bread Waffles (with Chocolate Chips)” felt the most fitting because they genuinely encapsulate the comforting essence of homemade banana bread in a crisp, fluffy waffle form. It’s like enjoying one of my all-time favorite baked treats, but for breakfast! These waffles are a delightful adaptation of my beloved Orange Cranberry Waffles and my Lemon Poppyseed Waffles, yet they offer such a distinct flavor profile that you’ll simply have to try all three. This particular recipe has been a labor of love, refined and perfected throughout 2019, and I can confidently say it’s a culinary gem well worth your time and effort.
Unveiling the Secret to Irresistibly Fluffy Gluten-Free Waffles: Cassava Flour
Let me reveal the secret ingredient that elevates these banana bread waffles from good to absolutely phenomenal: cassava flour. Ever since I successfully incorporated it into my fluffy vegan blueberry muffins, I’ve been experimenting with cassava flour in countless recipes. It has undeniably captured my heart as the premier single gluten-free flour for many compelling reasons. Growing up in Jamaica, cassava was a staple, so there’s a strong personal connection to this versatile root. Beyond nostalgia, cassava flour boasts an exquisitely fine texture, almost akin to powdered sugar, which contributes significantly to the delicate crumb of baked goods. What truly sets it apart is its remarkably neutral flavor, making it taste incredibly similar to traditional wheat flour. Trust me when I say, you will genuinely not detect that these waffles are gluten-free, a testament to cassava flour’s incredible baking properties.
The Perfect Gluten-Free Blend: Cassava and All-Purpose GF Flour
In the creation of these waffles, I made a conscious choice to swap my usual oat flour for cassava flour, and I honestly don’t foresee myself ever going back. While I appreciate oat flour, the innovative combination of a general gluten-free flour blend with cassava flour yields waffles that possess that coveted “I ordered this from a fancy breakfast bakery” quality. This unique blend contributes to an exceptional texture – crispy on the outside, yet incredibly light and fluffy within. Complementing this perfect base are the divine, subtle notes of ripe banana and, of course, the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips. What’s even better is that between the natural sweetness of the ripe bananas and the optional but highly recommended chocolate chips, I found absolutely no need to add any maple syrup or coconut sugar to the batter. This is a significant first for me and another compelling reason why I adore these Banana Bread Waffles. Plus, the generous batter yields an impressive 13 waffles – making them an absolute dream for meal prepping! Imagine a week of delicious, healthy breakfasts ready to go.
Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Vegan Banana Bread Waffles
Beyond their incredible taste, these banana bread waffles offer a multitude of benefits that make them a standout recipe:
- Naturally Sweetened: Ripe bananas provide a wonderful, natural sweetness, allowing us to significantly reduce or even eliminate added sugars.
- Gluten-Free & Vegan: Made with plant-based ingredients and a clever flour blend, they cater to various dietary needs without compromising on flavor or texture.
- Meal Prep Champion: The recipe yields a large batch, making them perfect for preparing ahead of time. Freeze them and reheat for quick, delicious breakfasts throughout the week.
- Bakery-Quality Texture: Thanks to cassava flour, these waffles achieve a crisp exterior and a wonderfully fluffy interior, rivaling those from your favorite breakfast spot.
- Versatile & Customizable: Easily adapt them with different mix-ins like nuts, other fruits, or spices.
Tips for Achieving Waffle Perfection
Making great waffles is straightforward, but a few tips can ensure your banana bread waffles turn out perfectly every time:
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter until just combined. A few lumps are perfectly fine and often lead to a lighter, fluffier waffle. Overmixing can develop the gluten (even in GF flours, they can become tough if overmixed) and result in dense waffles.
- Rest the Batter: If you have time, let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes after mixing. This allows the flours to fully hydrate, leading to a better texture.
- Preheat Your Waffle Maker Thoroughly: A properly preheated waffle maker is crucial for crispy waffles. Wait for the indicator light or the recommended preheat time.
- Generously Grease: Even if your waffle iron is non-stick, a light brush of oil or spray can prevent sticking and promote browning.
- Don’t Peek Too Early: Resist the urge to open your waffle maker too soon. This can tear the waffle apart. Wait for the steam to significantly diminish or for your waffle maker’s timer/indicator light.
- Keep Waffles Warm & Crispy: As you cook batches, place finished waffles on a wire rack in a preheated oven (around 200°F/95°C) to keep them warm and prevent them from getting soggy.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Variations
Now that we’ve delved into all the wonderful aspects of these waffles, it’s time to dive in and enjoy them, friends! While they are incredibly delicious on their own, here are some ideas to elevate your banana bread waffle experience:
- Fresh Fruit: Top with extra slices of fresh banana, berries, or a medley of seasonal fruits.
- A Drizzle of Maple Syrup (Optional!): As mentioned, these waffles are sweet enough on their own. However, a tiny bit of maple syrup can add an extra layer of richness if desired.
- Nut Butters: A dollop of almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter can add protein and healthy fats.
- Vegan Whipped Cream or Yogurt: For an even more decadent treat, add a swirl of vegan whipped cream or a spoonful of plain or vanilla vegan yogurt.
- Spices: A sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg on top can further enhance the banana bread flavor.
- Caramelized Bananas: Sauté banana slices in a tiny bit of vegan butter and a pinch of brown sugar for a warm, gooey topping.
- Chopped Nuts: If you love texture, sprinkle some extra chopped walnuts or pecans on top.
These waffles are truly perfect just as they are, a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that will make your breakfast feel like a special occasion. Enjoy every single bite!
Banana Bread Waffles (with Chocolate Chips) – Gluten-Free & Vegan
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Ingredients
- 2 cups soy milk , or other plant-based milk (I prefer soy milk for vegan buttermilk), 500mL
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar, 10ml
- 87 grams cassava flour, or oat flour
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose gluten free flour mix, (I use Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour), 185g
- ½ teaspoon baking soda, 2.4g
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 7.2g
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt, 4.2g
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, or vegan butter, 30mL
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, (I love Nielsen-Massey), 5ml
- 2 very ripe bananas, mashed with a fork (a bit over ½ cup and a bit less than ¾ cup)
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts, walnuts or pecans are best
Instructions
- Mix the nut milk and apple cider vinegar together in a large bowl or large measuring cup. Let sit for at least 3 minutes to create a vegan buttermilk.
- In a large bowl, mix the cassava flour, gluten free flour, baking soda, baking powder and sea salt. Set aside.
- In the apple cider vinegar and nut milk bowl, stir in the coconut oil/vegan butter, and the vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until combined. Add in the mashed bananas, chocolate chips and the nuts.
- Turn on and preheat your Waffle Maker according to which done level that you want. I set mine two dials before max because I like mine crisp and brown but also very fluffy. I also tested these on “light” and they work both ways!
- When preheated, use a heaping 1/4 cup/62.5ml measuring cup, scoop out some batter and pour/spread into the middle of each side of the waffle maker (so 1/4 cup per side*). You don’t need to push it to the edges. Close and remove when the timer on the Waffle Maker is finished and the waffle maker beeps.
- Remove each waffle and place on a baking sheet in your oven or toaster oven on “warm” or 200F/95C to keep warm and crispy until finished with the entire batter. Continue with the rest of the batter.
- Top with extra bananas and chocolate chips and maple syrup (optional). Enjoy!
Notes
I used 1/4 cup because the nuts and chocolate chips and banana make this batter very chunky. If you’re modifying it and leaving any of those out, you might need to use 1/2 cup to fill the waffle maker effectively.
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.